Blair Braverman is a columnist and contributing editor for ϳԹ, a long-distance dogsledder, and author, most recently, ofԻ.
She’s completed some of the toughest dogsled races in the world, including the Iditarod, the Kobuk 440, and the Canadian Challenge, and co-runs the dog team BraverMountain Mushing with her husband,Quince Mountain, in northern Wisconsin. They share the team’s many adventures on.
Blair’s a contributor to The New York Times, Vogue, Esquire, This American Life, and elsewhere. She recently hosted the BBC Radio 4 showand is survival correspondent for the podcast. She’s spoken about resilience in the wilderness for companies including Microsoft and Google.
Her favorite pieces she’s written for ϳԹ are about competing on the Discovery show Naked and Afraid, being a womanalone in the woods,learning to write, and mischievoussled dog Blowhole.
Published
I’m on a quest to learn to love the body I’m in but afraid to push my limits outside
I want to thru-hike part of the AT or PCT, but I’m the main caregiver in my household
I’m not convinced I can be with someone who isn’t into the same kind of adventures as me
Watching your dog age is one of the hardest parts of having a pet. Make their life comfortable and full of joy, and they’ll know how much you love them until the very end.
Tips for being a backpacking beginner and a woman adventuring alone
Go sledding, slow cook a hearty stew, sip on a rich cup of hot cocoa. Just because the days are shorter and colder doesn’t have to mean they’re any less fun.
People are disabled in countless different ways, so there are few practical tips that will apply to everyone. Yet a few key things can improve your experience.
When you get creative with natural materials in parks, some call it art; others call it litter
Working as a camp counselor teaches you important skills that could jump-start your career
What to do if you followed your dream, only to realize it wasn’t what you wanted after all
How to balance freedom and adventure with safety and security
If you sent me this question before the pandemic, I probably would have a very different answer. But we’re all in a different time now.
Please give me some kind of hope that I’m not raising a kid who always will prefer computers to canoes
The outdoors are all around you, no matter where you live
Your style, no matter the reason, is your choice. Period.
Breathable, stink-free, and softer with wear. What's not to love?
Smart tips to make sure your new adventure partner has a blast and feels welcome outside
Being rusty now doesn’t mean you’ll be rusty forever
Your partner’s planning an epic adventure with his ex, but you’d rather be his go-to travel buddy
Two versatile, go-anywhere dresses that are practical before all else
Challenge yourself, choose your own pace, and embrace nature all by yourself
And what to do when your fitness level doesn’t match your adventure partner’s
You’re dead set on walking every inch of a trail, but your partner doesn’t mind skipping a section or two. How do you compromise?
One team of sled dogs. Twenty tested toys. Three standouts.
Tips for calming your own nerves—and those of people who love you
If you can get past the lack of creature comforts, spending a night outside might be one of the most rewarding things you do
Camping solo may not always be easy, but it'll always be worth it
If you're just getting started on the trails, don't be overwhelmed. This 101 guide breaks down where to go, what to wear, and everything you need to know to stay safe and have fun out there.
It's time to stop judging people for how they recreate outside
Tools to give anyone a green thumb
What to do when a significant other, or a friend, doesn't respect your decisions
What to do when you can’t be active in the same way
It might seem embarrassing at first, but putting a costume on your dog will likely result in more pets for him and more laughs for you
You’re actively running and cycling, but your partner’s on the sidelines. Here are tips on coping with this challenging dynamic.
It's not just about saying you're sorry. You should also explain how you'll do better next time.
It feels like you're wearing a pile of sleeping puppies, and the puppies are all dreaming about lambs
The key to an adventure that's fun for everyone: lower your expectations, squash insecurities, and bring along plenty of creature comforts
Expanding your community is always tough. Throw in a pandemic and a move to a rural area, and it could feel impossible. But a shift in perspective might be all you need to (safely) fill that social void.
Getting outdoors in the winter doesn't have to be miserable. Here, musher Blair Braverman shares her top ten tips for keeping cozy in frigid temperatures.
The key is to go all out on the things you feel comfortable doing
By setting boundaries around what you post, when you're online, and who you surround yourself with in real life, you can strike a better balance between Instagram and reality
Plus, how to make up for missing an important day
What happens when your ski and river guiding partner isn't able to work during the pandemic?
These items will keep you comfortable and protected while you tend to your flowers and veggies
A lot of people get recognition because they do groundbreaking, brilliant, and deserving work, work that rises to the top through merit alone. But there are other groundbreaking, brilliant people who don’t always get recognition.
Sometimes the best thing for a relationship is to let it go
Staying home as much as possible is the most useful thing we can do
You're taking the virus seriously, but someone in your household is still grabbing beers with buddies. Here's how to handle it.
When the Discovery Channel invited me to audition for its popular survival-challenge reality show, I knew it was going to be rough. What followed was one of the most intense experiences of my life.
Musher Blair Braverman tested 20 gloves and mittens head to head to find the warmest handwear that fits in your pocket
Don't let your insecurities stand in the way of what you want to do
Stop trying to trick us, gear companies. We know a parka when we see one.
ϳԹs take a lot of planning. But what if all that stress means you don't go at all?
Disney Plus's 'Togo' and 20th Century Fox's 'The Call of the Wild' deliver as feel-good dog stories, but their portrayal of the human history of mushing is flawed
The queen of wool on what she'd wear if she were forced to never wear wool again
What do you do when your parents' political views directly impact your life?
And what to do when it's time to break up with your climbing partner
Getting hurt outdoors means you're exploring your limits
You can’t spend every day chasing powder stashes
Better to drift apart with love than to strangle a friendship by trying to make it work when it doesn’t
How to handle ego in its many (sometimes potentially deadly) forms
Fit everything you need into a single bag
What do you do after getting turned down by a dream job? Keep getting turned down.
It's not easy, but you don't have neglect your love of being outside to have a fulfilling career (and not go broke)
Sweat, lounge, and live in these comfy frocks
What to do about a friend who's uptight about splitting expenses and a date who's uptight about bodily functions
You can teach confidence and a love of physical activity—but it starts with keeping weight out of the conversation
Blair hates to be cold. She also hates to be hot. But our grouchiest gear reviewer doesn't hate these clothes.
How to share your passion for solo adventure without feeling judged or defensive
What to do if you're with a group that jumps into the lake nude and you just don't feel comfortable stripping down
For Blair Braverman, physical activity was a given. Until it wasn't.
Sometimes, able-bodied partners need to be sat down
An environmentalist grapples with a common question in an uncommon time